The mission of the Victoria County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is to protect children, the elderly, and people with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by involving clients, families and communities.The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) offers a central location to report:

• child abuse and neglect,• elderly or adults with disabilities abuse, neglect, or exploitation,• abuse of children in licensed child-care facilities or treatment centers for the entire State of Texas,• abuse of clients served by the Texas Department of State Health Service(DSHS) or Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) employees in State Hospitals or State Schools.

Assistant Criminal District Attorney, PINK DICKENS, with the assistance of legal secretary, SELENA ORTIZ, represents the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) in civil cases filed under the Texas Family Code protecting abused and neglected children as well as the elderly and people with disabilities in Victoria County. These cases can involveemergency removalsfrom the home to protect them from abuse or neglect. Temporary orders can be issued by the court granting temporary custody to the Department or a relative who will protect the person while the case is pending. These civil suits can ultimately result in the termination of parental/guardianship rights. The court can also order parent(s)/guardians to do certain services to avoid the removal.

The law requires any person who believes that a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited to report the circumstances to DFPS. A person making a report is immune from civil or criminal liability provided they make the report in good faith, and the name of the person making the report is kept confidential. Any person suspecting abuse and not reporting it can be held liable for a Class B misdemeanor. Time frames for investigating reports are based on severity of allegations. Reporting suspected child abuse makes it possible for a family to get help.Reports of suspected abuse can be made at www.txabusehotline.org or by calling the Texas Abuse Hotline 1-800-252-5400